Characterization of Primitive Clays from Katsina-Ala and Makurdi, Benue State - Nigeria

Abstract

Clay samples sourced from Katsina-Ala and Makurdi were characterized using x-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The XRD of both clays revealed the presence of halloysite and quartz as the major phyllosilicate mineral crystals in both clays. An IR spectral analysis identified Al-OH, Al-O, Si-O and Si-O-Si functional groups in the high frequency stretching and low frequency bending modes of the clays respectively. A comparison of the physicochemical properties of both clays showed that clay samples from Makurdi have a marginally higher moisture content, porosity, and cation exchange capacity (17.65 %, 4.2, 0.32 and 3.1 meq/100g respectively) than that from Katsina-Ala which had the following respective values of 14.21 %, 2.4, 0.17 and 2.9 meq/100g. Thus clay samples from Makurdi show better characteristics of efficient low cost adsorbents than those from Katsina-Ala.

Key words: Primitive clay, characterization, XRF, XRD, FTIR